Chapter 102: The Hall of Worthy Recommendations, the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness

“With Commander Yang so wise and resourceful, if he were to join my Hall of Worthies, it would be like adding wings to a tiger,” Prince Fusu said with clasped hands. “And several of the commander’s old friends are already serving in my hall.”

The first remark was praise; the second was an appeal to sentiment.

Yang Wenhao smiled faintly. “Prince Fusu, come, sit first. Have a cup of tea.”

After Fusu was seated, Yang Wenhao instructed Li Lingyun to fetch something for him.

He had long since guessed that Fusu had come to recruit him.

Part of it was because he was the defending commander of Xianyang City; the rest, without doubt, was due to the esteem of Xiang Liang, Yi Xiaochuan, and the others.

“Come, Prince, please have some tea.” Yang Cong raised his cup.

“To the commander.” Prince Fusu took a small sip, then could not help but praise it. “This tea is excellent.”

The leaves had been bought specially with points. More and more, he preferred tea to wine.

Setting down the cup, Prince Fusu looked at Yang Wenhao. “What is the commander’s judgment? My Hall of Worthies is in need of a man of your talent.”

Yang Wenhao only smiled and said nothing. At that moment, Li Lingyun entered carrying a box.

Prince Fusu naturally knew her. At first he had been surprised that Li Lingyun was in Yang Wenhao’s residence, but after asking around, he learned that the two were master and disciple.

In truth, he had been somewhat puzzled at the start as well, but after seeing the soldiers in Yang Wenhao’s household, he grew even more eager to bring him into the Hall of Worthies.

“Master, the thing you wanted.” After setting it down, Li Lingyun withdrew.

She understood that in a situation like this, her identity was too sensitive; she could only leave.

“Prince Fusu, please take a look.” Yang Wenhao opened the wooden box.

Fusu looked on in confusion, not knowing what Yang Wenhao intended to show him.

But when the box was opened, the contents only deepened his bewilderment.

There were two crickets inside.

“Does the prince know the fate of these two crickets?” Yang Wenhao asked, looking at him.

Prince Fusu said, “Please enlighten me, Commander.”

“These two crickets originally had nothing to do with one another. Perhaps they would never have met even once in their entire lives. Yet I captured them and brought them here, and thus their lives became entwined. But if they were given a choice, they would surely rather never have met.” Yang Wenhao said, “Because once they meet, they become toys in someone else’s hand. If they had never met, they might have lived safely and peacefully for a lifetime. But now, they must battle each other until death.”

At this, Prince Fusu fell silent. Yang Wenhao may have been speaking of the course of two crickets’ lives, but the meaning beneath it was worthy of deep thought.

The two crickets’ struggle was, in itself, utterly meaningless, yet the victor could survive. That was profit. As the saying goes, a merchant rises only for gain. The prince ought to understand that principle.

Prince Fusu pondered deeply, turning over the meaning of these two crickets’ fates.

While he was thinking, the struggle between the crickets came to an end. One was dead, the other wounded. The injured one still lived, but it had lost legs and limbs and would likely not survive much longer.

Though crippled, it had gained a life. Whether that was worth it was another question entirely.

“Prince, you may return for now. When you understand the meaning of this, come again. By then, this minister dares not claim to give his wholehearted service, but I will do my utmost.”

Prince Fusu departed. Li Lingyun then came in.

“Master, did you agree to him?” she asked.

Yang Wenhao shook his head. “The muddy waters of the Hall of Worthies are not something I will wade into unless absolutely necessary.”

Li Lingyun asked again, “Master, right now there are two major factions in court. My father says that very soon many people will have to choose which heir they support. What do you think, Master?”

Yang Wenhao looked at her. “What about you?”

“I don’t know. But I think such matters have little to do with me.” Li Lingyun shook her head. “And I am your disciple, Master. Your choice will naturally be Lingyun’s choice.”

“Then so be it. We shall watch and wait,” Yang Wenhao said.

For a year and a half, Yang Wenhao had been watching and waiting.

From Yi Xiaochuan at the beginning to Prince Fusu now, he had considered many people, yet in the end none seemed right.

In truth, throughout history, only two men were truly suited to be emperor. One was Prince Fusu; the other was Liu Bang, a rough man of humble beginnings.

But Liu Bang was already an enemy, and once he became emperor he would be difficult to control. Though he was considered a wise ruler, Yang Wenhao disliked his petty character.

“When the elixir of immortality appears, that will be the time to make a real decision.”

Yang Wenhao did not want to remain in any one world for too long, for doing so might make it difficult for him to融入 modern society.

Though he was a cultivator, he was still a man with a family.

He did not wish to be treated as an oddity.

And during this stretch of time, many things also happened within the palace.

When he heard from his men that Zhao Gao had been torn apart by chariots, Yang Wenhao could not help but smile.

Then Gao Yao was given the name Zhao Gao. Perhaps that was no coincidence.

Zhao was the imperial surname of the present dynasty. The reigning emperor had originally been named Zhao Zheng, and even Prince Fusu’s name was Zhao Fusu.

One could imagine how immense Gao Yao’s glory now was.

Soon after, many people in the palace were inexplicably assassinated.

Yi Xiaochuan also told him about it, and guessed that it was Zhao Gao, that is, Gao Yao.

Later, when he thought of Liu Bang and wanted to go save him, Yang Wenhao said nothing. His attitude remained the same: watch and wait.

During this period, his cultivation also advanced considerably.

After Fusu left that last time, he never came to look for him again. No one knew what it meant.

Then, across from the Hall of Worthies, the officials and court grandees headed by Zhao Gao and Li Si opened a place called the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.

There were some disturbances in connection with that.

On this day, Yang Wenhao, as usual, was cultivating and tempering his body.

Then a servant came to report that Chancellor Li Si had arrived to call.

At this, Yang Wenhao changed his clothes and went to the main hall.

“Lord Li.” He clasped his hands in greeting.

“It has been many days. Commander Yang is as imposing as ever, brimming with vigor and bearing,” Li Si said with a smile.

“You flatter me, Lord Li. I am nothing more than a mere warrior,” Yang Wenhao replied.

“Lingyun has not caused you any trouble lately, has she?” Li Si asked.

To one side, Li Lingyun pouted and said, “Father, how can you say such a thing?”

Yang Wenhao smiled. “May I ask what brings Lord Li to my humble home?”

“It is like this,” Li Si said. “Today we opened the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness. After a look, we found that no one there had any talent for commanding troops. So I thought of Commander Yang. That is why I have come today: to invite you to join our Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.”